The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-25
TIME FOR THE GANG TO HALT
A German Catholic Papers Protest
Against the Insane Hospital Abuses.
A Vigorous Denunciation of the Outrageous
Management of the Institution-An Appeal
to the Public in Behalf of Humanity.


is concerned long since passed the petty boun-
daries OF the domain of party politics and the
righteous indignation of homes; and humane peo-
pie of all creeds all over the State is aroused.
Die Glocke" THE Bell), the German Catholic
organ of this city, which speaks for the people
OF that faith and nationality in Indiana, where
1t has %. 600 readers contains an article in this
weeks number the existing abuses of the hos
pital which will doubtless attract great atten-
ton. The editor. DR.. A. K Fisher, was for sew
eral years practising physician of this city,
and speaks from professional and humanitarian
standpoint, with full acquaintance with the
facts. He speaks for the two hundred Catholics
who inmates of this Indiana Tswksbury. and
it is expected that there will be uncertain re-
Spouse from the great body of Christians to
whom he makes known the condition of their
coreligionists. The outrageous mismanage-
ment of the hospital under Harrison and Gapen
has been alluded to a number of times in In
dianapols pulpits. but not with the vigor usual
~ employed by the clergy in the denunciation of
wrongs to humanity. The article is editorial,
and appears in its columns in both English and
German. It is as follows: 9
There is said to be a settled purpose on the
part OF the authorities in charge to make a
change in the superin tendency of the Hospital
for the Insane of this State DR.. ". B. Fletcher
IS the present Incumbent and has now for over
four years filled the position of SUPERINTENDENT
with distinguished ability and fidelity, the
satisfaction of all the incom petent and
corrupt gang who, unfortunately have the insti-
tuition in charge. and in the way of whose
abuses and corruption ne has stood like stone
WALL shown by the recent legislative investi-
CATION We are interested in the good of this
noble institution. not only men and citizens.
but, especially, as friends of the two hundred
Catholics now within its walls. Being
so interested we INQUIRE if an honest
ia nd eff mfr iarly
fitted for his position, both by education and
practical experience, whose reputation for the
successful treatment of mental diseases is not
only national. but cosmopolitan Is to be allowed
to be displaced, punishment for his integ-
rity and efficiency IN the past. by the scurvy fell
lows whose corrupt and inhuman purposes ne
has, in large measure, thwarted. or, in failing
to be able TO do SO. has not hesitated to expose
and denounce? Are the Indiana Harrsons and
the Arkansas Gapens to continue arbitrarily
control the management of this institution, to
the detriment of lis great interests, after the
disgraceful exposure of their ineficiency and
perfdy by the investigation of last winterl Are
the benevolent institutions of this State, and
especially this one, where the inmates
peculiarly helpless. to be conducted in the inter
est of the State and for the benefit
of their unfortunate wards, in
the interest and for The benefit of the Harrison
Gapen consprators2 The successors of these
fellows have been appointed by the Governor,
and are kept out of their places only by the
warranted and unwarrantable refusal of the in
cumbents to surrender possession. The author
ing of the appointees, but hearing has yet been
had. Cannot the ordinarily slow movement of
legal proceedings be in some way accelerated, In
the emergency, to prevent further threatened
wrong on the part of these usurpers? If not, let
the people throughout the State, in every county,
city, hamlet and household in such way may
be deemed most effsctuai. give speedy and indig-
nant expression to their sentiments and say TO
these men. in tones clear and unmistakable.
'"Thus far. but farrher' The credit and
honor of the State demands it. The usefulness
of the institution itself demands it. The
comfort and very lives of the helpless
beings in its charge demands it. We are
deeply in earnest in this matter. 1t is no ques-
ton of politics 1t is a question of justice. OF
honor, of humanity. If the management of the
late past is to bs continued and these presumed
guardians of its interests to be allowed free
course in the prosecution of their ncfariotis
schemes. by the removal from their way of the
honest who have. in the past inpeded
their progress, better close the Institution at
once and forever-betrer throw the poor intel
lectual invalids hack upon their friends and in
the poor houses where their lot cannot be
worse, may be better. In the name of universal
justice and charity-in the name of Catholic
benevoence and humanity, call upon these
men to halt
There is very pretty little pamphlet
of sixteen pages which bears upon its
cover the title, RULES and Bylaws
of the Board of Trustees Indiana Hos
pital for the Insane" These rules and bylaws
are based upon the act passed by the Legsla-
ture in 1885, and by the Harrison and Gapen
management are violated in every essential par
dismissal of C. G. Roth as storekeeper by the
adjustment of his Office by the votes
of but TWO of the trustees and without
8. which reads: The board NAV SUSPEND.
amend. or add to the bylaws by a vote (unani-
mous) at any regular monthly meeting after one
months notice of such intention" This fragrant
violation of the rules has carried dismav to all
the attendants who have not the best of reason
for considering themselves solid with the board
and many designations of employees are looked
for after the first of the month. In designations
of this character the patients in the institution
suffer. persons are taken in who know nothing
of the of the insane, frequently inefi-
Gent and careless and sometimes even brutal
DR.. Browning, who has just been showed out
of the hospital, has many friends, especially
among the physicians of this city, and they are
Justly indignant at the manner in which he has
been treated 1t is under consideration by
number of them to call upon Governor Gray
and assure him of their support in any
looking to the reform of the abuses existing
the hospital
Another section of the bylaws of the iustitu-
ton which Harrison and Gapen are now
riding rough-shod reads as follows: He 1.-THE
SUPERINTENDENT shall appoint and employ such
officers. attendants, mechanics, laborers and
other employees may be necessary for the
ject to the approval of the board. which shall
stablish their number and pay. He THE super
intendentl may for good cause discharge any
subordinate and fill the place with any compe-
tent person, subject to the approval of the
board" etc. AS matter of fact, this section is
a dead letter. The superintendent neither
chooses nor discharges the employees, and they
are selected by Harrison and Gapen with the
same nice discrimination that they chose Sulli-
vans maggoty butter. 4
NEVER ACCEPTED HIS FREEDOM.